Islamabad High Court has acquitted the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the high-profile cipher case. This decision comes after months of legal battles and a highly scrutinized trial process.
The case, which has drawn intense public and media attention, revolves around allegations that the PTI leader and Qureshi mishandled sensitive diplomatic communications. The prosecution argued that the cipher’s mishandling jeopardized national security, a claim vehemently denied by the defense.
During the court proceedings, Barrister Salman Safdar, representing the PTI founder, contended that there was no concrete evidence to prove that the cipher was intentionally retained by his client. He argued that if the cipher had indeed gone missing, it would be impossible to charge someone for its possession. Safdar further emphasized that the prosecution failed to demonstrate any specific damage to international relations due to the alleged mishandling of the cipher.
Chief Justice Aamer Farooq highlighted the prosecution’s inconsistencies and noted that during the previous hearings, even the prosecution had admitted to flaws in their case. The defense maintained that the case had already dragged on for three months, making any further delays unjustifiable.
The court scrutinized the prosecution’s claims, questioning whether potential diplomatic fallout could justify such severe penalties as life imprisonment or a decade-long jail term. The Chief Justice remarked that the law requires the prosecution to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, which, in this case, they failed to do.
In an intense exchange, the special prosecutor attempted to argue that repeated warnings about the cipher were ignored by the PTI leader. However, the court held that mere allegations without solid proof could not substantiate a conviction. The court noted that even if the PTI leader acknowledged the warnings, the prosecution had to prove deliberate intent to jeopardize state security.
The court questioned the overall impact on state security, asking for specific evidence of harm caused by the alleged mishandling of the cipher. The Chief Justice pointed out that no one could definitively state the consequences of the cipher’s disappearance, thus weakening the prosecution’s case.
Ultimately, the court concluded that there was no legal basis to convict the PTI leader and Qureshi. The judgment underscored the importance of due process and the necessity for the prosecution to present incontrovertible evidence in such critical cases.
The bench, after thorough deliberation, announced the acquittal, much to the relief of the defense team and supporters of the PTI. This landmark decision marks a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s judicial landscape, highlighting the judiciary’s role in upholding justice and due process.
